Maine's highest court today affirmed a judge's dismissal of several counts of Nader's lawsuit and ordered that the remaining counts against the Maine Democratic Party also be dismissed.

PORTLAND, Maine (AP) _ Ralph Nader has lost his bid to punish Democrats he has accused of trying to keep him off ballots in Maine during his failed presidential run in 2004.

On Thursday, Maine's highest court affirmed a judge's dismissal of several counts of Nader's lawsuit and ordered that the remaining counts against the Maine Democratic Party also be dismissed.

Nader, the consumer advocate who ran as an independent in 2004, had claimed that the Democratic Party and allies orchestrated a nationwide effort against him using illegal and malicious tactics. Many Democrats blame Nader for siphoning away votes in an election won by Republican George W. Bush.

Nader's lawyer said Thursday that he'll need to review his options before deciding whether to ask the court to reconsider or to appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court.